Tarbiyyah, Wisdom and Social Engagement: Contextualising Ḥasan Al-Bannā’s Da’wah Principles for Muslim Development in Malaysia

Abstract

Da’wah among Muslims in Malaysia requires an approach that is wise, compassionate and responsive to contemporary realities. Although religious knowledge is widely accessible through a variety of means such as mosques, educational institutions, community programmes and digital platforms but the access to religious content does not always lead to meaningful transformation. This article aims to contextualise selected da’wah principles of Ḥasan al-Banna for strengthening Muslim development in Malaysia. Using a qualitative library-based method with descriptive and analytical approaches, the study examines relevant academic writings on Ḥasan al-Banna’s da’wah thought and contemporary da’wah in Malaysia. The findings identify three particularly relevant principles, which are tarbiyyah, wisdom in communication and social engagement. These principles emphasise the nurturing of faith and character, the importance of ethical and relatable communication, and the need to translate da’wah into community participation and engagement. The article concludes that Ḥasan al-Banna’s da’wah principles, when appropriately contextualised, can contribute to a more holistic, compassionate and locally relevant da’wah approach for Muslim development in contemporary Malaysia.